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Problems with Rangers?

Has anyone had problems with Park Rangers (or anyone else for that matter) getting on their case about hanging? It seems like hammock camping leaves less of an impact than even ground tent camping, just curious as to what others have encountered.

I haven't tried our hammocks in Provincial Parks yet, but if we do go to one this year, I'll be calling ahead to see if they're allowed. I'm kind of thinking they won't be. Park staff aren't too educated up here.

In Florida, where we haven't been able to hang in State Parks, there is a "pilot" program for one year to see if a rule change can be made. The county that I live in does not allow hammocks in their parks.

I believe it comes from the fact that some campers (not hammock campers) string wires, ropes, drive nails into trees. So rules are made that you can't touch trees.

I guess I understand the concern. It just really sucks that a few inconsiderate idiots ruin it for the rest of us. Hawaii has some really strict rules when it comes to camping. (No fires, being one of them.) I'm afraid to ask about hammocks, but I figure if I stay way up on the ridge line, no rangers ever come up there anyway. I'll just be really careful to leave no trace, and no one will ever even know I was up there.

When I hung the first time in Canada, someone had driven a huge nail into the pine that I was hanging from at the camp site. Got sap all over my suspension. I just didn't understand why you would do that - seems a lot more work and a lot more hassle than just tying a line around the tree if you want to get a tarp up?

When I hung the first time in Canada, someone had driven a huge nail into the pine that I was hanging from at the camp site. Got sap all over my suspension. I just didn't understand why you would do that - seems a lot more work and a lot more hassle than just tying a line around the tree if you want to get a tarp up?

Nono, it was there when I came to the site. They had left some lines hanging from the nail as well, could have been used for a tarp. Most likely not hammockers though. I just don't see a reason for anyone to do that whichever way you camp - you have to tie a knot whichever way you do it, and it seems more work to hammer a nail into a tree than wrap a line around it..